Puerto Rico Power Grid Fails, White House Declares Emergency

Governor Pierluisi: "Emergency incidents are being reported to consequence of Hurricane Fiona. LUMA Energy and the Electric Power Authority report that due to the effect of the hurricane, the electrical system it is currently out of service. Image | Screenshot from earth.nullschool.net | Altered by Donald Standeford

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
September 18, 2022 11:00 pm UTC
Modified: 2022-09-18 11:00 pm

Puerto Rico - Multiple sources, including Puerto Rico’s Governor has reported that the power grid in Puerto Rico has gone black. The statement by Governor Pierluisi says, "Emergency incidents are being reported to consequence of Hurricane Fiona. LUMA Energy and the Electric Power Authority report that due to the effect of the hurricane, the electrical system it is currently out of service."

"They have activated the protocols according to the plans established for attend to this situation. The staff of both LUMA and of the ESA is active and ready to respond to the situation once the conditions allow it. 

Rivers are also reported outside their channel in different regions of Puerto Rico. We emphasize that the security of everyone and everyone is the priority right now. 

NMEAD staff is actively responding to those emergencies in which the life of citizens is in imminent danger." 

White house: Puerto Rico Emergency Declaration

WHITE HOUSE - Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists  in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal assistance to  supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency  conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Fiona beginning on September  17, 2022, and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes the  Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency  (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose  of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on  the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required  emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to  save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to  lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 78 municipalities in  the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Specifically, FEMA is  authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion,  equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the  emergency.  Emergency protective measures, including direct federal  assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding. 

Deanne  Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),  Department of Homeland Security, named Robert Little III as the Federal  Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected  areas. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR [email protected].